How to Use Excel As a Probability Machine

Written by kevin cavanagh

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Using the probability function of Microsoft Excel (Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images)

Calculating probability by hand has become a thing of the past, with many people now having access to Microsoft Excel, which is an excellent tool when calculating probability and statistics. Microsoft Excel has hundreds of built-in functions that can assist users with many numerical tasks. One function Excel offers is a probability formula that can calculate probabilities in seconds, instead of hours, doing it by hand.

Skill level:

Moderately Challenging

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Microsoft Excel

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Instructions

The Probability Function of Microsoft Excel

1

Open the spreadsheet that contains the data you would like analysed. Select an empty cell. The cell you select will be where your answer will appear after you run the formula.

2

Scroll up to the "Insert" tab and select "Function". This should open a new window titled "Insert Function".

3

Select "statistical" from the options and then select "NORMDIST" to open a statistics window in Excel.

4

Highlight the data you want analysed for each option: (Mean, Standard Deviation, etc). Once all of the data has been highlighted, press "APPLY" and the answer will appear in the box selected.